Crime Scene Unit

The Odessa Police Department Crime Scene Unit (CSU), completely staffed by civilian personnel, is made up of:

  • 1 clerk
  • 1 supervisor
  • 2 Property and Evidence Technicians
  • 6 Crime Technicians
  1. Crime Technicians
  2. Property & Evidence Technicians
  3. Clerk

Crime Technicians

Crime Technicians are responsible to assist in criminal investigations by effectively documenting, collecting and analyzing the photographs, latent prints and other physical evidence present at crime scenes and other locations. Crime Technicians receive forensic training from state and federal agencies in forensic disciplines which include latent fingerprints, photography, evidence collection and crime scene reconstruction and processing.

Odessa Police Department Mobile Crime Lab VehicleMobile Crime Lab

They respond to calls for service for patrol officers, Traffic Unit and detectives using the Mobile Crime Lab Vehicle. This fleet vehicle is equipped with equipment, chemicals and supplies necessary to conduct crime scene processing in the field. The vehicle operates Monday through Friday from 7 am until 11 pm with technicians available 24/7 for after-hours calls for service.

Regional Response

Our Crime Scene Unit personnel maintain a regional response to assist outside agencies with crime scene processing, latent print collection and positive identification through fingerprints. Examples of agencies assisted include:

  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • Ector County Independent School District (ECISD)
  • Ector County Sheriff's Office
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • Medical Examiner's Office
  • Odessa College
  • Odessa Fire Rescue
  • Police departments and sheriff's offices in:
    • Alpine
    • Andrews
    • Big Spring
    • Crane
    • Ft. Stockton
    • Kermit
    • McCamey
    • Monahans
    • Pecos
  • Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas Rangers
  • University of Texas in Permian Basin (UTPB)
  • U.S. Border Patrol
  • U.S. Secret Service

Fingerprint Database Certifications

Crime Technicians receive certification to operate the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAIFIS), state and national databases storing inked fingerprint records used to match to unknown prints lifted at crime scenes for positive identification.